Vijay Mallya, currently in UK, is wanted in India for over a billion dollars in unpaid loans. (File Photo)
Highlights
- ED moves anti-money laundering court to declare Mallya an offender
- Agency says they're in touch with Interpol for a red corner notice
- Mallya owes 9000 crores to a group of banks; he left India in March
The Enforcement Directorate, which investigates financial crimes, has moved a special anti-money laundering court in Mumbai to declare business tycoon Vijay Mallya an offender over a billion dollars in unpaid loans by his firms.
The agency has said this must done as the flamboyant businessman has ignored a series of orders to return to India to face investigations and his creditors.
The ED has also said that it is in touch with Interpol to release a red corner notice, similar to an international arrest warrant, against 60-year-old Mr Mallya, who is believed to be living in the UK.
New Delhi, which had cancelled Mr Mallya's passport in April, had formally requested London that he be deported, which is faster than the process of extradition under a treaty between two governments. But Britain has told India that it can't deport the liquor baron under its laws but can help with his extradition.
"We are working on the due process of law to bring Mallya back to India," Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha said this week.
Mr Mallya is also being investigated for money-laundering. He flew to London on March 2 as banks attempted to recover around Rs 9,000 crores loaned to his collapsed Kingfisher Airlines.